High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, March 1
BOYS BASKETBALL:
IHSAA Class A Sectional 54 at Southern Wells, Daleville vs. Cowan, 6 p.m.; White’s vs. Southern Wells, 7:30 p.m.
IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 38 at South Adams, Bluffton vs. South Adams, 7 p.m.
IHSAA Class 3A Sectional 22 at Bellmont, Bellmont vs. Maconaquah, 7 p.m.

Friday, March 4
BOYS BASKETBALL:
IHSAA Class A Sectional 54 at Southern Wells, Wes-Del vs. Daleville or Cowan, 6 p.m.; Liberty Christian vs. White’s or Southern Wells, 7:30 p.m.
IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 38 at South Adams, Adams Central vs. FW Bishop Luers, 6 p.m.; Woodlan vs. Bluffton or South Adams, 7:30 p.m.
IHSAA Class 3A Sectional 22 at Bellmont, Norwell vs. FW Wayne, 6 p.m.; Peru vs. Bellmont or Maconaquah, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 5
BOYS BASKETBALL:
IHSAA Class A Sectional 54 at Southern Wells, championship game, 7:30 p.m.
IHSAA Class 2A Sectional 38 at South Adams, championship game, 7:30 p.m.
IHSAA Class 3A Sectional 22 at Bellmont, championship game, 7:30 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Kaylee Imel helps Broncos
SEDONA, Ariz. — Kaylee Imel helped the Western Michigan University women’s golf team place second at the Red Rocks Invitational on Saturday.
Imel, a sophomore from Norwell High School, registered a Top 20 finish for the Broncos. She tied for 14th place. Imel completed the 36-hole tournament with a 13-over-par 157 (77-80).

Crusader matmen post first wins
The Norwell Crusaders picked up their first wins of the season Saturday at the West Noble Middle School Super Duals.
After a week off due to the weather, Norwell finished sixth out of 12 teams in the round-robin tournament.
Trevor Wilson went 5-0 for the day at 80 pounds. Jonathon Becker went 4-1 at 85 pounds. Ashton McCune was 4-1 at 125. Zach Stein was 3-2 at 110. Other winners on the day with pins included Luke Fillers (100), Blake Lewis (105), Noah Tobias (115), Conner Nash (120), Jarrett Rennaker (130), Corey Germann (152) and Avery Miller (171).

Baseball world loses Duke Snider
By The Associated Press
Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame center fielder for the charmed “Boys of Summer” who helped the Dodgers bring their elusive and only World Series crown to Brooklyn, died of what his family called natural causes. He was 84.
Snider died at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, Calif., according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which announced the death on behalf of the family.
“The Duke of Flatbush” hit .295 with 407 career home runs, played in the World Series six times and won two titles. But the eight-time All-Star was defined by much more than his stats — he was, after all, part of the love affair between the borough of Brooklyn and “Dem Bums” who lived in the local neighborhoods.

Indiana schools archery tournament in Muncie, March 11

Indiana DNR Release:

Indiana’s fifth annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament, which promises to be the largest indoor youth archery tournament in state history, will be held Friday, March 11, at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.

The tournament features 45 participating schools with nearly 1,000 students competing. Last year, more than 800 students from 30 plus schools participated. Participation has increased every year. There is no charge for admission. Indiana NASP coordinator Tim Beck said he hopes the growth will continue, not only with the tournament itself but for the in-school programs.

Doors open at 7 a.m. Flight (shooting) times start at 8 a.m. A new flight starts every two hours. The last flight is scheduled for 4 p.m. A shoot-off of the six top scorers, both male and female, will follow the last flight to determine the overall individual winners in the 4th-6th, 7th-8th and 9th-12th grade classifications. An awards ceremony will follow.

The Indiana Field Archery Association will run the tournament with DNR conservation officers, along with many volunteers. The Indiana Hunter Education Association is sponsoring the tournament.

Supported as a joint venture between school corporations throughout Indiana and the DNR, NASP provides international target archery training in Indiana’s physical educational classes, grades 4-12. NASP supports student education and introduces many life skills through the lifelong sport of archery.

Tournament competition is open only to schools that have received the archery training provided by the DNR Division of Law Enforcement and have the archery program as a part of their school’s curriculum.

The program is supported and often funded through local school corporations, the Indiana Hunter Education Association, individual donations, conservation organizations, and corporate sponsors such as the National Wild Turkey Federation.

For more information on NASP, visit www.indiananasp.com, or contact Beck at (812) 482-3093 or tbeck@dnr.IN.gov.

Cowboy gathering at Salamonie Reservoir, Feb. 26

Indiana DNR Release:

Mosey on over to the Salamonie Reservoir Interpretive Center for a cowboy gathering, Feb. 26. The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with a cowboy stew meal followed by a program given by Philip Loy, about Roy Roger’s famous mount Trigger.

There will also be a favorite cowboy hat contest. Wear your funniest or ugliest riding hat for a chance to win a prize.

Attendees should bring a dessert or side dish and their own table service. Drinks and stew will be provided.

Registration is required by calling (260) 468-2127. There is no fee for the event or property admission. Donations to cover cost of stew will be accepted.

Annual horse tags, as well as many horse-related gift items are available in the gift shop.

The Salamonie Interpretive Center hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The center is located in Lost Bridge West Recreation Area on Highway 105 in western Huntington County.

Visit www.in.gov/dnr/uwis/ for more information about this and other Upper Wabash Interpretive Services programs.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Little League sign up in Ossian
Northern Wells Minor League and Wells County Junior League baseball signups will be at the Ossian Town Hall on the following dates: Thursday, March 4, 4-8 p.m.; Friday, March 4, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, March 10, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost is $55 for Minor League and $60 for Junior League. A birth certificate must be presented for each child.

Bluffton freshmen win game
The score of the Bluffton Tigers’ freshman basketball game against New Haven on Tuesday night was incorrect in the News-Banner. The Tigers won the game 38-30 instead of New Haven. The News-Banner regrets the mistake and apologizes for any inconvenience it may have caused.

High School Sports Calendar

Friday, Feb. 25
BOYS BASKETBALL: Southern Wells at Monroe Central, 6 p.m.; Bluffton at Southwood, 6:15 p.m.; Norwell at Huntington North, 6:15 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals Prelims at Indiana University Natatorium (IUPUI), 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 26
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals Prelims at Indiana University Natatorium (IUPUI), TBA.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 6 p.m. (rescheduled from Tuesday); Wes-Del at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.

Indiana schools archery tournament in Muncie, March 11

Indiana DNR Release:

Indiana’s fifth annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament, which promises to be the largest indoor youth archery tournament in state history, will be held Friday, March 11, at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.

The tournament features 45 participating schools with nearly 1,000 students competing. Last year, more than 800 students from 30 plus schools participated. Participation has increased every year. There is no charge for admission. Indiana NASP coordinator Tim Beck said he hopes the growth will continue, not only with the tournament itself but for the in-school programs.

Doors open at 7 a.m. Flight (shooting) times start at 8 a.m. A new flight starts every two hours. The last flight is scheduled for 4 p.m. A shoot-off of the six top scorers, both male and female, will follow the last flight to determine the overall individual winners in the 4th-6th, 7th-8th and 9th-12th grade classifications. An awards ceremony will follow.

The Indiana Field Archery Association will run the tournament with DNR conservation officers, along with many volunteers. The Indiana Hunter Education Association is sponsoring the tournament.

Supported as a joint venture between school corporations throughout Indiana and the DNR, NASP provides international target archery training in Indiana’s physical educational classes, grades 4-12. NASP supports student education and introduces many life skills through the lifelong sport of archery.

Tournament competition is open only to schools that have received the archery training provided by the DNR Division of Law Enforcement and have the archery program as a part of their school’s curriculum.

The program is supported and often funded through local school corporations, the Indiana Hunter Education Association, individual donations, conservation organizations, and corporate sponsors such as the National Wild Turkey Federation.

For more information on NASP, visit www.indiananasp.com, or contact Beck at (812) 482-3093 or tbeck@dnr.IN.gov.

High School Sports Calendar

Friday, Feb. 25
BOYS BASKETBALL: Southern Wells at Monroe Central, 6 p.m.; Bluffton at Southwood, 6:15 p.m.; Norwell at Huntington North, 6:15 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals Prelims at Indiana University Natatorium (IUPUI), 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 26
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals Prelims at Indiana University Natatorium (IUPUI), TBA.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 6 p.m. (rescheduled from Tuesday); Wes-Del at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Horacek competes at regional
Norwell junior diver Austin Horacek concluded his season Tuesday night with a 19th-place finish in the IHSAA boys’ diving regional at Hamilton Southeastern High School.
Horacek placed third in the Jay County Sectional on Saturday. Layne Rogers of Harrison (Lafayette) was the regional champion with 532.85 points.

Little League sign up in Ossian
Northern Wells Minor League and Wells County Junior League baseball signups will be at the Ossian Town Hall on the following dates: Thursday, March 4, 4-8 p.m.; Friday, March 4, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, March 10, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost is $55 for Minor League and $60 for Junior League. A birth certificate must be presented for each child.

Another deer hunting season, another record

Indiana DNR Release:

INDIANAPOLIS –Indiana hunters established a record for the third straight year by reporting an overall harvest of 134,004 deer taken during the 2010 seasons.

Reports submitted from 461 check stations across Indiana topped the 2009 total by 1,252 deer, a 1 percent increase, and bettered the 2008 total by more than 4,200 deer.

“We’re seeing a healthy number of deer throughout much of the state, and that is translating into success by our hunters during the hunting season” DNR deer biologist Chad Stewart said.

The 2010 total was bolstered by a record 80,997 antlerless deer and 53,007 antlered deer, the second-highest antlered total in the 60-year history of regulated deer hunting in Indiana.

The results came despite a slight dip in deer hunting license sales. Hunters purchased 268,485 licenses in 2010 compared to 271,951 in 2009. Resident firearms tags again topped the list (102,626), making up 38 percent of the license sales.

The deer hunting season began in urban deer zones on Sept. 15, followed by a two-day youth only weekend (Sept. 25-26) and the early archery (Oct. 1-Nov. 28), firearms (Nov. 13-28), muzzleloader (Dec. 4-19) and late archery (Dec. 4 to Jan. 2) segments.

Hunters harvested 86,241 deer in the firearms segment; 26,342 in early archery (including urban zones); 17,400 in muzzleloader; and 1,684 in late archery. There were 2,337 deer taken during the two-day youth season.

Modern-era records were set in 29 counties, and another 20 counties showed harvest increases from the 2009 season. Thirteen counties set records for the second straight year.

“Hunters are continuing to put up high harvest numbers and see a lot of success in many northern counties” Stewart said.

The biggest year-over-year harvest increases were reported in Montgomery (up 356 over 2009), Fountain (up 289), LaGrange (up 253), Pulaski (up 184) and Putnam (up 180). The biggest year-over-year harvest declines were reported in Harrison (down 311), Brown (down 279), Perry (down 202), Steuben (down 154), and Jackson (down 141).

Harvest totals in the northeast Indiana corridor of Steuben, Noble and Kosciusko counties ranked first, fourth and second, respectively, for the second straight year despite Steuben and Kosciusko both reporting declines from their 2009 totals.

Hunters bagged 3,948 deer in Steuben, down from 4,102 the year before but still enough to make Steuben the top harvest county in Indiana for the sixth straight year. Hunters reported 3,578 deer in Kosciusko, followed by Switzerland (3,400), Noble (3,323), and Franklin (3,054).

The male to female ratio of the overall harvest was 50:50 for the third straight year. Male deer (antlered deer and button bucks) made up 50 percent of the total harvest.

The complete report of the 2010 season is online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2717.htm along with reports from 2000 through 2009.

Compiling deer harvest records is a thorough process that begins in October when check stations are supplied with report forms, metal tags and envelopes for submitting carbon copies of hunter-reported deer.

“The deer check process takes a while to unfold, but it has been done the same way for years, allowing us to look back and compare this year’s data with previous years, which is extremely valuable,” Stewart said. “It may be frustrating not to receive updates throughout the year, but that is the trade-off we make by using the current system.”

Some check stations submit reports on a weekly basis as requested; a few wait until the end of the season to return the information at one time. Sometimes, DNR personnel visit individual check stations to retrieve harvest records that have not been turned in.

The DNR makes every attempt to collect harvest records from each check station in order to accurately compile and analyze data before announcing a total deer harvest figure.

As check station reports are received at the DNR Bloomington field office, staff begins to enter data. The volume increases dramatically once the firearms season begins. Additional staff from other locations is called upon to assist in entering everything from tag numbers assigned to reported deer to the sex of the deer, equipment used by the hunter, and the county where the deer was taken.

The information is merged into one data base in early to mid-February. The pink carbon copies are sorted by county and stored in Bloomington for three years. The data base is then checked for accurate spelling and to ensure there are no duplicate tag entries.

Lady Cougars climb to No. 5 in NAIA Div. II Top 25

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – For the second time this season, the University of Saint Francis Lady Cougars are ranked No. 5 NAIA Top 25 rankings released on Monday.
The Lady Cougars return to the Top 5 for the fifth time this season climbing from seventh to fifth after winning two games last week including a 71-66 conquest of then and still No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday. USF regained a share of the Mid-Central College Conference lead with a 12-2 record. USF can clinch a share of the title and secure the No. 1 seed in the MCC Tournament, which starts next Tues., Feb. 22, with a win over Grace (No. 41 tie, RV) Wednesday night (Feb. 16) and at No. 33 Huntington on Saturday (Feb. 19).
USF junior guard Kayla Mullins continues to lead the MCC in scoring with an 17.4 average. USF has won the MCC six times, the last in 2005-06. USF has won the MCC Tournament nine times including the 2009-10 championship.




High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, Feb. 22
BOYS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Jay County, 6 p.m.; New Haven at Bluffton, 6 p.m.
BOYS DIVING: IHSAA Regional at Hamilton Southeastern, 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 25
BOYS BASKETBALL: Southern Wells at Monroe Central, 6 p.m.; Bluffton at Southwood, 6:15 p.m.; Norwell at Huntington North, 6:15 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals Prelims at Indiana University Natatorium (IUPUI), 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 26
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals Prelims at Indiana University Natatorium (IUPUI), TBA.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Wes-Del at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.

Lynch Family Working to Help Down Syndrome Indiana

Joey Lynch, an assistant football coach and former quarterback of Ball State's football team, has been selected, along with his father and former Cardinals' head football coach Bill Lynch, as honorary co-chairs of the "Our Time to Shine" Gala which benefits Down Syndrome Indiana.

The two members of the Lynch family will serve as honorary chairs for the Down Syndrome Indiana closing gala. At the black tie affair, the works of four designers will be featured in a runway fashion show. The audience will include boutique owners and retail store managers from Shop Midwest. Host for the evening is Andi Hauser of WISH-TV's IndyStyle. In addition to the two Lynch coaches, Congressman Andre Carson will also serve as honorary chair.

Joey Lynch, who serves as recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach at Ball State, is in his third year at Ball State. He spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons as the wide receivers coach after beginning his coaching career at St. Joseph's (Ind.) in 2007 and Ashland in 2008. Lynch earned four letters at quarterback for Ball State from 2003-06 and completed his career ranked second in Ball State history for career passing percentage with a .638 mark. Lynch completed 391-of-613 for 4,292 yards with 37 touchdowns.

Bill Lynch served as Ball State's head football coach from 1995-2002. He led the Cardinals to the 1996 Mid-American Conference Championship and a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl plus guided the program to a 2001 MAC West Division Co-Championship.

Tickets to the DSI Fashion Gala are available at www.dsiindiana.org.

Bluffton beats Bellmont

TinCaps tickets on sale Feb. 22

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Fort Wayne TinCaps will put single-game tickets for the 2011 season on sale on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. Highlighted events include Opening Day, a four-game series featuring the Triple-A Tucson Padres and a team-record 25 fireworks shows.

Fans can order tickets online at TinCaps.com, by phone at (260) 482-6400 or in person at the Parkview Field box office, located at the corner of Ewing and Brackenridge Streets in downtown Fort Wayne.

"We look forward to this day every year because it's a sure sign baseball season is almost here," TinCaps president Mike Nutter said. "Parkview Field has been a great atmosphere since it opened and we're prepared for that excitement to continue in 2011.

Single-game ticket prices for all regular-season games remain unchanged from the past two seasons, when the TinCaps set franchise attendance records.

"We'll continue with the fan favorites: Family Feast Mondays, Thirsty Thursdays, post-game autographs on Sundays, Jake the Diamond Dog and of course the Bad Apple Dancers, plus we're planning a few new promotions for 2011," Nutter said. "Our fans appreciate the affordability and family atmosphere of TinCaps games, so that's what we highlight."

For the first time, the San Diego Padres' Triple-A affiliate will come to Fort Wayne. The Tucson Padres will play a four-game weekend series against the Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A Toronto Blue Jays) on July 14-17. Several members of the TinCaps' 2009 Midwest League championship team are expected to make a one-time return trip to Parkview Field as Tucson Padres.

TinCaps 2011 ticket plans, group outings and picnics are on sale now. Visit the tickets page for more information.

Lake Michigan yielded five "Fish of the Year" in 2010

Indiana DNR Release:

If you wanted to catch an Indiana Fish of the Year winner in 2010, Lake Michigan was the place to cast.

It also helped if your name was Kotfer.

Hoosiers pulled five winners out the Indiana portion of the Great Lake during the year-long contest, which recognizes the person who catches the longest fish of each species tracked.

Ron Kotfer caught a 24.0-inch lake trout in the Porter County waters of the lake using a jig and grub. He also caught a 33.0-inch steelhead trout in the Porter County portion of the lake using a J-plug. His 13-year-old son Michael caught a 31.0-inch chinook salmon in the Porter County waters of the lake using a J-plug. Michael also caught a 7.0-inch green sunfish from a private lake in Fountain County using a jig and plug to earn Fish of the Year for that species.

Steve Fiorio of Dyer and David Kniola of Michigan City landed the other Lake Michigan fish. Fiorio caught a 16.6-inch yellow perch while fishing Lake Michigan in Lake County using a minnow. Kniola caught a 31.5-inch brown trout in the LaPorte County waters of the lake but didn’t report a bait or lure used.

As successful as Ron and Michael Kotfer were, 16-year-old Danny owned bragging rights for the most Fish of the Year with three. Danny Kotfer’s biggest Fish of the Year was a 29.0-inch coho salmon he took from Porter County’s portion of the Little Calumet River using a Blue Fox spinner. He also caught a 12.0-inch rock bass from the same waters using the same type of lure, and a 13.0-inch bullhead from a private lake in Fountain County using a jig and grub.

The longest Fish of the Year was a 48.0-inch blue catfish caught by David Ben Mullen, a Central resident, in the Ohio River, using a skipjack herring as bait.

Other notable fish were caught in smaller waters. Fiorio caught a 47.0-inch muskie from Tippecanoe Lake in Kosciusko County using a Toppy Crappie. Kelly Williams, an Indianapolis man, caught a 42.0-inch striped bass in Cecil M. Harden Lake in Parke County, also known as Raccoon Lake, using a bluegill as bait. Patrick Ross of Mishawaka caught a 32.0-inch walleye in the St. Joseph River in Elkhart County using a bass minnow as bait. Mark Nance of Greenfield caught a 26.0-inch saugeye out of Huntingburg Lake in Dubois County, using a jig.

There were 56 entries for Fish of the Year; 30 were recognized as winners. River and stream fishing accounted for 12 of the 30 entries. Eight came from inland lakes, and five came from private ponds. To view other Fish of the Year honorees and their information, see
http://www.fishing.IN.gov/files/fw-Fish_of_the_Year_Winners_2010.pdf

As announced in earlier news releases, two Hoosier anglers caught fish of state-record weight in 2010.

Jonathan VanHook of Rockville caught a 39.08-pound striped bass in Cecil M. Harden Lake in Parke County, using a live bluegill as bait. His striper surpassed the previous state record, caught in the Ohio River in 1993, by almost 4 pounds.

Lindsey Fleshood of Wabash established the first state record for a shortnose gar in 2010. Her fish weighed 1.58 pounds and measured 24.25 inches. She caught the fish in the Wabash River in Wabash County using a live creek chub as bait. She also caught the white bass and grass carp Fish of the Year.

For information about the State Record Fish or Fish of the Year programs, go to http://www.fishing.IN.gov/3577.htm. To find out where to fish, go to fishing.IN.gov and click on the interactive “Where to Fish Finder” link. To purchase an Indiana fishing license online, see IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov.

High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, Feb. 17
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, Prelims, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 18
WRESTLING: IHSAA Individual State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bellmont at Bluffton, 6 p.m.; Blackford at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Woodlan, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 19
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County; Diving Trials, 9 a.m.; Championship and Consolation Finals, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING: IHSAA Individual State Finals, 9 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
IHSAA Class A Regional at Tri-Central, 10 a.m., Southern Wells vs. Lafayette Central Catholic; Turkey Run vs. Monroe Central, 11:30 a.m.; championship, 8 p.m.
IHSAA Class 3A Regional at Peru, 10 a.m., Norwell vs. Yorktown; Wawasee vs. FW Concordia Lutheran, 11:30 a.m.; championship, 8 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Mississinewa, 6 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Bluffton swimmers breeze to victory
The Bluffton Middle School swim teams sank their foes from Memorial Park on Tuesday evening at Bluffton. The boys’ team won 144-26 and the girls won 105-68.
Ethan Kitt, Taylor Pulver and Jacob Ehle were double winners for the Bluffton boys. Sam Dedrick and Bryce Kipfer also were individual winners. The 200-meter medley relay team of Dustin Lobsiger, Kipfer, Kitt and Ehle also took first place. Kitt, Kipfer, Pulver and Ehle won the 200-meter freestyle relay. Hunter Greenway, Hunter Okey, Pulver and Dedrick won the 300-meter freestyle relay.
Mikayla Brickley took two firsts for the Bluffton girls. BreAnna Kizer, Caroline Mettler, Jamie Jaskie and Siera Gregg also were first-place finishers. Payton Davidson, Madison Heller, Katie Holloway and Jaskie won the 200 free relay.

James Fisher rolls two 300 games
James Fisher recently rolled two 300 games over a span of two weeks at The Bowling Center in Bluffton.
In the Sunday night Ossian Mixed League, Fisher started out with a 268 game and followed with 12 straight strikes for his fourth career 300 game. He concluded the night with a 269 for an 837 series, which is the second highest series on record. Tom Osborne holds the top spot with an 848.
Before that on Feb. 3 in the men’s Pizza Hut Merchants League, Fisher opened with a 234 game and followed with the 300 game. He finished with a 214 game for a 748 series.

Norwell matmen fall to Indian Springs
The Norwell Crusaders wrestling team lost 54-9 to defending Northeast Hoosier Middle Level Conference champion Indian Springs on Wednesday evening at The Castle.
Trevor Wilson and Ashton McCune continued their winning ways for the Crusaders. Wilson won 4-2 in the 75-pound weight class and McCune pinned his opponent in two minutes at the 125 pounds.
The junior varsity wrestlers were victorious 48-6. Winners were Jaden Hunter (75), Wilson (80), Jonathon Becker (85), Blake Lewis (100), Dylan McCune (115), Noah Tobias (115), Paul Jensen (135), Corey Germann (145) and Jon Dathe (155).

K-105 to play SW staffers
The Southern Wells school staff will play the K-105 radio basketball team in a game at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Admission is $3 and proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund. The game is hosted by the Athletic Boosters. The Southern Wells Raider ropers will be performing at 6:30 p.m. Pizza will be available.

Buffet set for Norwell cross country
The Norwell girls’ and boys’ cross country teams have created a booster club to help raise money to offset the transportation fee.
A pizza buffet has been scheduled at the Ossian East of Chicago Pizza restaurant from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Team members will be servers and dishwashers and the restaurant will donate $1 per buffet and all tips also will go to the club. Cost is $9.29, which includes buffet, drink and tax.

Odum, Indiana State
drop Southern Illinois 77-72
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Jake Odum scored 16 points and Indiana State weathered a game-opening drought lasting 8:12 to beat Southern Illinois 77-72 on Wednesday night.
Odum made just two baskets but went 12-for-12 from the line as the Sycamores (15-12, 10-6 Missouri Valley) won their third in a row. Dwayne Lathan scored 11 points.
The Salukis (11-16, 5-11) were led by Carlton Fay, whose 24 points included five three-pointers. Kendal Brown-Surles and Diamond Taylor scored 12 points apiece and Mamadou Seck grabbed 11 rebounds for Southern Illinois, which has lost seven of eight.
The Salukis led 12-0 before Jordan Printy got Indiana State on the board with a three-pointer with 11:48 left in the first half.
After the Salukis went up 15-9, the Sycamores rattled off the next nine points for an 18-15 lead with 5:16 left in the first half and never trailed again.

DNR sets up shop at Indy outdoor shows

Indiana DNR Release:

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will have a strong presence at the 57th Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show and the 14th Indiana Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo that open Friday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Both shows are presented by Renfro Productions and open at 3 p.m. Friday.

The Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo runs through Sunday (Feb. 20), and the main show continues through Feb. 27. Check www.renfroproductions.com for complete details about show hours, special features, seminars, and ticket prices.

The DNR’s primary location during the Boat, Sport and Travel Show is Tackle Town in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion, where staff will be on hand to provide information about DNR programs and events.

The booth also offers visitors a convenient one-stop shopping opportunity for licenses, state park passes, lake use permits, Outdoor Indiana magazine, Sportsman’s Benevolence Fund pins, and Turn-In-A-Poacher hats and pins.

The Indiana Conservation Officers Organization will be selling raffle tickets for an ATV, with proceeds going to the Karl E. Kelley Memorial Youth Camp.

DNR interpretive naturalists will have special presentations Feb. 19 and 27 with birds of prey, and Feb. 20 and 26 with a collection of snakes native to Indiana.

Two DNR divisions – Fish and Wildlife, and Law Enforcement – will have a presence at the Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo in the Fairground’s Exposition Hall.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife will have information regarding deer, wild turkeys, waterfowl and small game on display at booths 203 and 204. Staff biologists will be on hand to discuss wildlife habitat development and management, hunting and trapping seasons, and wildlife species information, and to answer questions.

The Division of Law Enforcement’s outdoor education section will be in booths 249-251 and 325. Visitors will be able to try the Laser Shot simulated shooting system with images of realistic hunting scenarios. Visitors also can pick up information on hunter education classes, Indiana’s Archery in the Schools Program, 4-H shooting sports, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop, Karl E. Kelley Memorial Conservation Officers Youth Camp, and C.O. Mollenhour Conservation Camp.

Upper Wabash Eagle Watch now spanning three days, Feb. 18-20

Indiana DNR Release:

View bald eagles in the wild, Feb. 18-20 during the annual Upper Wabash Eagle Watch. Plenty of spots are still available Feb. 18 and Feb. 20.

The sessions begin with a talk about bald eagles at the interpretive center. Then, travel to popular eagle spots. The journey will end up at a nearby roost site so guests can watch the bald eagles fly in for the night.

On Feb. 18, participants will meet at the Salamonie Interpretive Center at 5 p.m. and travel by caravan to the roost site, with one stop along the way. This evening is organized for those who are unable to invest the entire afternoon. Coffee will be available at the roost site for a small donation.

On Feb. 19 and 20, participants will meet at the interpretive center at 3 p.m. and caravan to several locations on the way to the roost. Once there, the Wabash Valley Coonhunters Association will offer a bowl of chili, coffee or hot chocolate for a $3 donation.

“Sunday’s trip on Feb. 20 has the greatest number of openings at this time. Visitors will enjoy smaller caravans as we follow each other to the viewing sites and will also benefit from two prior days of scouting for the eagle locations currently being used by these awesome birds,” said Lynnanne Fager, interpretive naturalist.

Participants should dress for the weather and bring binoculars if they have them, as well as any snacks or drinks, and a full tank of gas. Donations will gladly be accepted for the raptor center and for the refreshments. There is no fee for the program.

Registration is required. There will be van seats available for a limited number of people. The number of cars in the caravans will also be limited.

To register, call (260) 468-2127 or visit the Salamonie Interpretive Center in the Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702.

For more information, visit the Upper Wabash Reservoirs Interpretive Services website at www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

Upper Wabash Eagle Watch now spanning three days, Feb. 18-20

Indiana DNR Release:

View bald eagles in the wild, Feb. 18-20 during the annual Upper Wabash Eagle Watch. Plenty of spots are still available Feb. 18 and Feb. 20.

The sessions begin with a talk about bald eagles at the interpretive center. Then, travel to popular eagle spots. The journey will end up at a nearby roost site so guests can watch the bald eagles fly in for the night.

On Feb. 18, participants will meet at the Salamonie Interpretive Center at 5 p.m. and travel by caravan to the roost site, with one stop along the way. This evening is organized for those who are unable to invest the entire afternoon. Coffee will be available at the roost site for a small donation.

On Feb. 19 and 20, participants will meet at the interpretive center at 3 p.m. and caravan to several locations on the way to the roost. Once there, the Wabash Valley Coonhunters Association will offer a bowl of chili, coffee or hot chocolate for a $3 donation.

“Sunday’s trip on Feb. 20 has the greatest number of openings at this time. Visitors will enjoy smaller caravans as we follow each other to the viewing sites and will also benefit from two prior days of scouting for the eagle locations currently being used by these awesome birds,” said Lynnanne Fager, interpretive naturalist.

Participants should dress for the weather and bring binoculars if they have them, as well as any snacks or drinks, and a full tank of gas. Donations will gladly be accepted for the raptor center and for the refreshments. There is no fee for the program.

Registration is required. There will be van seats available for a limited number of people. The number of cars in the caravans will also be limited.

To register, call (260) 468-2127 or visit the Salamonie Interpretive Center in the Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702.

For more information, visit the Upper Wabash Reservoirs Interpretive Services website at www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, Feb. 15
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Heritage, 6 p.m. (reschuled); Blue River at Southern Wells, 6 p.m. (rescheduled); South Adams at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 17
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, Prelims, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 18
WRESTLING: IHSAA Individual State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bellmont at Bluffton, 6 p.m.; Blackford at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Woodlan, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 19
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County; Diving Trials, 9 a.m.; Championship and Consolation Finals, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING: IHSAA Individual State Finals, 9 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL:
IHSAA Class A Regional at Tri-Central, 10 a.m., Southern Wells vs. Lafayette Central Catholic; Turkey Run vs. Monroe Central, 11:30 a.m.; championship, 8 p.m.
IHSAA Class 3A Regional at Peru, 10 a.m., Norwell vs. Yorktown; Wawasee vs. FW Concordia Lutheran, 11:30 a.m.; championship, 8 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Mississinewa, 6 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Raider wrestlers fall to Jets
The Southern Wells Junior High School wrestling team had seven individual winners Monday evening, but the Adams Central Jets had more winners to register a 54-34 victory.
Briar Beeks, Drew Rockwell, Austin Wells, Daniel Beeks, Miguel Arriaga, Jacob Stout and Justin Ballenger were the Raider victors.

Adams Central 54, Southern Wells 34
80: J. McAfee (AC) pin Brandt Couch (SW) 3:15
90: Briar Beeks (SW) dec. B. Coyne (AC) 8-6
95: A. Oliver (AC) major dec. T.C. Perry (SW) 9-1
100: Drew Rockwell (SW) major dec. J. Vanover (AC) 11-0
110: R. Ashley (AC) pin Brennen Rheinhart (SW) :15
110: H. Bates (AC) major dec. Jacey Dunnuck (SW) 9-0
115: Austin Wells (SW) pin G. Christian (AC) :52
122: C. Luginbill (AC) pin Paul Renner (SW) 2:49
130: Daniel Beeks (SW) dec. K. McCullough (AC) 8-1
138: C. Sharp (AC) pin Jake Weldy (SW) :15
145: L. Liter (AC) pin Ethan Smith (SW) 1:26
152: A. Ebert (AC) pin Brandon Hough (SW) 2:28
160: Miguel Arriaga (SW) pin R. Beer (AC) :07
170: Jacob Stout (SW) pin D. Schumm (AC) :21
185: Justin Ballenger (SW) pin N. Brummer (AC) 1:34
215: I. Bollenbacher (AC) pin Ace Addington (SW) :23
250: C. Hitt (AC) pin Alberto Morels (SW) 1:29
Exhibition
80: T. Miller (AC) major dec. B. Couch (SW) 11-0
90: B. Beeks (SW) dec. T. Free (AC) 7-0
95: T.C. Perry (SW) dec. B. Hirschy (AC) 6-0
115: G. Christian (AC) pin Cameron Dalley (SW) 1:16
138: C. Sharp (AC) pin Daniel Stone (SW) :10
160: M. Arriaga (SW) pin K. Brown (AC) :06

Bluffton MS wrestlers open season
Seven Bluffton Middle School wrestlers posted victories Monday evening in the season-opening quadruple meet against Leo, Prince Chapman Academy and Heritage. Austin Speheger and Trae Jojola each recorded two pins. Brandon Lockwood also posted two victories, while Elijah Williams, Justin Mohler, Ryan Foreman and Dalton Ziko won matches.

Regional tickets on sale at Norwell
IHSAA girls’ basketball regional tickets will be on sale at Norwell during tonight’s boys’ basketball games with South Adams and throughout the week in the athletic office until 2 p.m. Friday. Ticket price is $9.

K-105 to play SW staffers
The Southern Wells school staff will play the K-105 radio basketball team in a game at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Admission is $3 and proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund. The game is hosted by the Athletic Boosters. The Southern Wells Raider ropers will be performing at 6:30 p.m. Pizza will be available.

Buffet set for Norwell cross country
The Norwell girls’ and boys’ cross country teams have created a booster club to help raise money to offset the transportation fee.
A pizza buffet has been scheduled at the Ossian East of Chicago Pizza restaurant from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Team members will be servers and dishwashers and the restaurant will donate $1 per buffet and all tips also will go to the club. Cost is $9.29, which includes buffet, drink and tax.
Swim team needs coaches
The Wells County Swim Team is looking for coaches for the 2011 summer season. Candidates should send resumes to WCST, P.O. Box 208, Ossian, IN 46777. For more information contact Teri Huffman at 824-3462.

Kansas assumes top ranking
From The Associated Press
Kansas is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll.
The Jayhawks moved up one spot following Ohio State’s first defeat, a loss at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes had been No. 1 for four weeks, the last two as a unanimous choice.
Kansas, ranked No. 1 for 15 weeks last season, received 22 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel. Ohio State received 14 first-place votes and was 13 points behind. Texas is third, although it has the most first-place votes with 23. Pittsburgh is fourth, voted No. 1 on six ballots.
Duke, which was No. 1 the first nine weeks, is No. 5. Completing the top 10 are: San Diego State, BYU, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Wisconsin.

Peter Forsberg hanging up his skates
DENVER (AP) — Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg is retiring from the NHL after playing in just two games during his latest comeback.
A chronic foot ailment cut short Forsberg’s career. He made a brief return in 2008 and didn’t play in the NHL again until this month. After a visa delay, he took the ice in just two games, scoring no points, before deciding to call it a career.
Forsberg was arguably the best two-way player in the NHL during his heyday, leading the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, and earning both the Hart Trophy and league MVP in 2003.

Cowboy gathering at Salamonie Reservoir, Feb. 26

Indiana DNR Release:

Mosey on over to the Salamonie Reservoir Interpretive Center for a cowboy gathering, Feb. 26. The evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with a cowboy stew meal followed by a program given by Philip Loy, about Roy Roger’s famous mount Trigger.

There will also be a favorite cowboy hat contest. Wear your funniest or ugliest riding hat for a chance to win a prize.

Attendees should bring a dessert or side dish and their own table service. Drinks and stew will be provided.

Registration is required by calling (260) 468-2127. There is no fee for the event or property admission. Donations to cover cost of stew will be accepted.

Annual horse tags, as well as many horse-related gift items are available in the gift shop.

The Salamonie Interpretive Center hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The center is located in Lost Bridge West Recreation Area on Highway 105 in western Huntington County.

Visit www.in.gov/dnr/uwis/ for more information about this and other Upper Wabash Interpretive Services programs.

High School Sports Calendar

Monday, Feb. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL: Leo at Norwell, 6:15 p.m. (rescheduled)

Tuesday, Feb. 15
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Heritage, 6 p.m. (reschuled); Blue River at Southern Wells, 6 p.m. (rescheduled); South Adams at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 17
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, Prelims, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 18
WRESTLING: IHSAA Individual State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bellmont at Bluffton, 6 p.m.; Blackford at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Woodlan, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 19
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County; Diving Trials, 9 a.m.; Championship and Consolation Finals, 1 p.m.
WRESTLING: IHSAA Individual State Finals, 9 a.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Class A Regional at Tri-Central, 10 a.m., Southern Wells vs. Lafayette Central Catholic; Class 3A Regional at Peru, 10 a.m., Norwell vs. Yorktown.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Mississinewa, 6 p.m.

Lady Raiders Sectional Champions!

Recreation guides available online

Indiana DNR Release:

Your guide to Indiana's best values in outdoor recreation is available online now at www.stateparks.IN.gov/2390.htm.

The Department of Natural Resources’ 2011 Indiana Recreation Guide is every Hoosier’s source for information on state parks, reservoirs, state park inns, fish and wildlife areas, state forests, state historic sites and other DNR properties.

Local retail outlets and, of course, state parks, reservoirs and other DNR properties will have free printed copies available in early March.

Annual entrance passes can be purchased in person at the gatehouse or offices of state park and reservoir properties during business hours, at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis, or at innsgifts.com.

Indiana resident passes are $36 or $18 for individuals 65 years old or older. Annual passes for vehicles with out-of-state license plates are $46. Normal daily gate fees for residents at most properties are $5 per vehicle. Prices for the passes and for the daily entry fees have remained the same since 2006. For more information on Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs, see stateparks.IN.gov.

High School Sports Calendar

Friday, Feb. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Class A Sectional 54 at Wes-Del, Southern Wells vs. Wes-Del, 7:30 p.m.; Class 3A Sectional 22 at Peru, Norwell vs. Bellmont, 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12
WRESTLING: IHSAA Semi-State at Allen County Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne; Session I (Rounds 1 & 2), 9 a.m.; Session II (Semifinals), 2 p.m.; Session III (Consolation and championship finals), 4 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis, TBA.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Class A Sectional 54 at Wes-Del, championship game, 7:30 p.m.; Class 3A Sectional 22 at Peru, championship game, 8 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 14
BOYS BASKETBALL: Leo at Norwell, 6:15 p.m. (rescheduled)

Tuesday, Feb. 15
BOYS BASKETBALL: Blue River at Southern Wells, 6 p.m. (rescheduled); South Adams at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 17
BOYS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, Prelims, 5:30 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

SW Jr. High wrestlers win dual meet
The Southern Wells Junior High School wrestling team pulled out a 39-34 victory over Eastbrook on Thursday evening.
Brandt Couch, Briar Beeks, T.C. Perry, Daniel Beeks, Ethan Smith, Miguel Arriaga and Jacob Stout were winners for the Raiders’ varsity team.

Southern Wells 39, Eastbrook 34
80: Brandt Couch (SW) pin C. Cook (E) :23
90: Briar Beeks (SW) pin N. Mosier (E) 2:25
95: T.C. Perry (SW) pin N. Lovell (E) 1:17
100: C. Bratcher (E) maj.dec Drew Rockwell (SW) 12-3
110: W. Bratcher (E) pin Jacey Dunnuck (SW) 2:52
120: J. Pinkerton (E) pin Paul Renner (SW) :40
130: Daniel Beeks (SW) pin C. Wickline (E) :47
140: Ethan Smith (SW) pin J. Bush (E) :38
145: L. Elliott (E) pin Brandon Hough (SW) 2:29
152: Miguel Arriaga (SW) pin L. Overboy (E) :11
185: Jacob Stout (SW) dec. J. Little (E) 3-1 O.T.
200: D. House (E) pin Ace Addington (SW) :13
250: D. Hale (E) pin Alberto Morels (SW) :15

Exhibition
80: A. Guy (E) dec. B. Couch (SW) 7-4
90: B. Beeks (SW) pin J. Wolfe (E) :29
110: C. Bratcher (E) pin Brennen Rheinhart (SW) 1:52
115: Austin Wells (SW) dec. W. Bratcher (E) 3-1 O.T.
115: W. Bratcher (E) pin Cameron Dalley (SW) :35
125: C. Wickline (E) pin Ethan Westfall (SW) 1:52
135: J. Pinkerton (E) pin Jake Weldy (SW) :58
135: J. Griffith (E) pin Daniel Stone (SW) 1:28
200: J. Little (E) pin Justin Ballenger (SW) 1:28
250: A. Morels (SW) pin D. Hatsfield (E) :57

Norwell matmen still on losing end
The Norwell Crusaders’ wrestling team again came out on the losing end 35-12 to the Maple Creek Bobcats on Thursday night at the Castle.
Trevor Wilson and Jonathon Becker continued their winning ways. Wilson won 10-2 in the 80-pound weight class, while Becker won by a pin in 34 seconds at 85 pounds. Ashton McCune was the only other varsity winner, posting a 3-1 decision at 120 pounds.
The junior varsity Crusaders were victorious 27-12. Winners were Luke Fillers (95), Noah Tobias (115), Dylan McCune (120), Paul Jensen (130), Jon Dathe (155) and Avery Miller (175).

Bluffton to hold rummage sale
The Bluffton High School athletic department will have a rummage sale Friday, Feb. 18, during the boys’ varsity basketball game against Bellmont. Items to be sold include game-worn jerseys from several sports, men’s and women’s leather basketballs, volleyballs and many other types of athletic equipment and memorabilia. A silent auction will be held for original championship print pictures.

Saint Francis jayvees to play at Trine
The men’s college junior varsity basketball game between Trine and University of Saint Francis on Feb. 14 has been moved to Trine. Bluffton High School graduate Adam Tuttle is an assistant coach for Trine.

Upper Wabash Eagle Watch now spanning three days, Feb. 18-20

Indiana DNR Release:

View bald eagles in the wild, Feb. 18-20 during the annual Upper Wabash Eagle Watch. Plenty of spots are still available Feb. 18 and Feb. 20.

The sessions begin with a talk about bald eagles at the interpretive center. Then, travel to popular eagle spots. The journey will end up at a nearby roost site so guests can watch the bald eagles fly in for the night.

On Feb. 18, participants will meet at the Salamonie Interpretive Center at 5 p.m. and travel by caravan to the roost site, with one stop along the way. This evening is organized for those who are unable to invest the entire afternoon. Coffee will be available at the roost site for a small donation.

On Feb. 19 and 20, participants will meet at the interpretive center at 3 p.m. and caravan to several locations on the way to the roost. Once there, the Wabash Valley Coonhunters Association will offer a bowl of chili, coffee or hot chocolate for a $3 donation.

“Sunday’s trip on Feb. 20 has the greatest number of openings at this time. Visitors will enjoy smaller caravans as we follow each other to the viewing sites and will also benefit from two prior days of scouting for the eagle locations currently being used by these awesome birds,” said Lynnanne Fager, interpretive naturalist.

Participants should dress for the weather and bring binoculars if they have them, as well as any snacks or drinks, and a full tank of gas. Donations will gladly be accepted for the raptor center and for the refreshments. There is no fee for the program.

Registration is required. There will be van seats available for a limited number of people. The number of cars in the caravans will also be limited.

To register, call (260) 468-2127 or visit the Salamonie Interpretive Center in the Lost Bridge West Recreation Area, 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN 46702.

For more information, visit the Upper Wabash Reservoirs Interpretive Services website at www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis.

Deadline to submit photos for preservation month photo contest, April 8

Indiana DNR Release:

The 7th annual historic preservation month photo contest deadline is April 8. The division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology is working with history/preservation organizations and local governments in Bloomington, Lafayette, Muncie, Rising Sun, Washington, and Winamac to showcase the photos.

Exhibits will be displayed until May, but may be longer depending on the location. Visitors will see the collection of great photos accumulated over several years for the photo contest.

Here are the guidelines:
- Photographers must fill out entry form for each photo and attach to photo
- Subject of image must be in Indiana and be at least 50 years old
- Images can be black and white or color and should be taken within the last 2 years
- Images must be 8x10 prints, mounted or matted on or with a white 11x14 matte board
- Each photographer can enter up to three images

For more information and the entry form, go to www.IN.gov/dnr/historic/3994.htm.

Submit entries to:

Historic Preservation Month Photo Contest
Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology
402 W. Washington St., Rm. W274
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739

Photographs will be judged by a panel consisting of representatives from the DNR, other preservationists, and photographers.

Images will not be returned. They may be used for office displays and promotions for the photo contest, Historic Preservation Month and historic preservation. Photos will not be used in for-profit publications.

Registration open until March 1 for Master Naturalist classes at Salamonie Lake

Indiana DNR Release:

Upper Wabash Interpretive Services will hold an Indiana Master Naturalist class at Salamonie Reservoir Interpretive Center from March 17 through May 12. The classes are on Thursdays from 6-9:30 p.m.

The Indiana Master Naturalist Program is an educational/volunteer program developed by the DNR and Purdue University Extension. IMNP brings together natural resources specialists and adult learners to understand Indiana’s plants, water, soils and wildlife. Participants will be able to use their newly learned skills as volunteer interpretive naturalists, working with UWIS.

Class size will be limited to 30 students. The fee for the class is $75. The registration deadline is March 1. The park entrance fee will be waived for students.

To register or learn more about the program, call (260) 468-2127 or contact Jody Heaston, program coordinator, at jheaston@dnr.IN.gov.

High School Sports Calendar

Wednesday, Feb. 9
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Norwell, 6 p.m. (Note the location).

Thursday, Feb. 10
BOYS BASKETBALL: Leo at Bluffton, 6 p.m.; Southern Wells at Woodlan, 6 p.m.; Homestead at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Class A Sectional 54 at Wes-Del, Southern Wells vs. Wes-Del, 7:30 p.m.; Class 3A Sectional 22 at Peru, Norwell vs. Bellmont, 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12
WRESTLING: IHSAA Semi-State at Allen County Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, 9 a.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis, TBA.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, TBA.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Raider matmen post second win
The Southern Wells Junior High School wrestling team rolled over Blackford 57-31 on Tuesday night.
Briar Beeks, T.C. Perry, Austin Wells, Paul Renner, Daniel Beeks, Ethan Smith, Brandon Hough, Miguel Arriaga and Alberto Morels were winners for the Raiders.

80 pounds: Brandt Couch (SW) pin J. O’connell (B) 1:17
90: Briar Beeks (SW) pin J. O’Connell (B) :39
105: T.C. Perry (SW) pin B. Schwartz (B) 3:19
110: B. Barkdull (B) pin Jacey Dunnuck (SW) 1:46
110: O. Baronick (B) pin Brennen Rheinhart (SW) 3:38
115: Austin Wells (SW) t.fall J. Glidden (B) 17-2
122: Paul Renner (SW) dec. G. Dyer (B) 8-7
135: Daniel Beeks (SW) pin T. Thompson (B) :53
135: E. Rodgers (B) pin Daniel Stone (SW) 1:29
145: Ethan Smith (SW) pin L. Christman (B) 1:48
152: Brandon Hough (SW) pin C. Bonewitt (B) 3:30
160: Miguel Arriaga (SW) pin D. Thomas (B) :09
175: D. Stoltz (B) dec. Jacob Stout (SW) 10-8
185: J. Adney (B) pin Justin Ballenger (SW) 1:03
215: E. Oliver (B) major dec. Ace Addington (SW) 15-3
250: Alberto Morels (SW) pin R. Fueller (B) :29

Exhibition
80: B. Couch (SW) pin B. Straight (B) 1:35
105: Drew Rockwell (SW) pin B. Schwartz (B) 2:00
125: G. Dyer (B) pin Ethan Westfall (SW) :52
135: Jake Weldy (SW) pin E. Rogers (B) 1:53

Crusaders fall short in comeback
The Norwell Middle School matmen fell short 36-31 in their comeback against the New Haven Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
Trevor Wilson and Jonathon Becker kept their records perfect, as they led Norwell to an early 10-6 lead. Wilson won 14-0 in the 80-pound weight class, while Becker won by a pin in 30 seconds at 85 pounds. Nick Gordon extended the lead with a 4-1 decision at 90 pounds. The Crusaders gave up three pins to fall behind 24-13, before Ashton McCune won by a pin in 57 seconds at 120 to make the score 24-19. Norwell gave up two more pins and trailed 36-19. Trevor Eichler kept his record perfect with a pin in 57 seconds at 135 pounds and Avery Miller scored a pin in 2:47.
The junior varsity Crusaders were edged 20-16. Jaden Hunter, Piercen Harnish and Wilson were winners.

Bluffton boys’ dunk Salamonie
The Bluffton Middle School boys’ swim team sank the Salamonie Rebels Monday evening 129-36 at Bluffton.

Bluffton 129, Salamonie 36
Diving: 1. Ethan Kitt (B) 104.25; 200 Meter Medley Relay: 1. Bluffton (Bryce Kipfer, Colten Barnes, Kitt, Eli Kitt) 2:47; 200 Meter Freestyle: 1. Taylor Pulver (B) 3:03.99; 100 Meter Individual Medley: 1. Et. Kitt (B) 1:32.87; 50 Meter Freestyle: 1. Sam Dedrick (B) 37.59; 50 Meter Butterfly: 1. Zane Cozad (S) 43.32; 100 Meter Freestyle: 1. Jacob Ehle (B) 1:20.91; 400 Meter Freestyle: 1. Cozad (S) 6:20.69; 200 Meter Freestyle Relay: 1. Bluffton (Dustin Lobsiger, Hunter Okey, Kipfer, Pulver) 2:27.08; 100 Meter Backstroke: 1. Kipfer (B) 1:44.87; 100 Meter Breaststroke: 1. Lobsiger (B) 1:55.86; 300 Meter Freestyle Relay: 1. Bluffton (Lobsiger, Pulver, Okey, Et. Kitt) 4:08.65.

Tigersharks sink Vikings
Sam Walburn and Jason Prible were double winners and led the Bluffton boys’ swim team to a 131-53 victory over the visiting Huntington North Vikings.
Luke Bertsch, Ben Miller, Keaton Osborn and Matt Dann also turned in first-place finishes to help lead the Tigersharks, who also won all three relay events.
Walburn won the 200-meter freestyle in 2:14.44 and the 100-meter butterfly in 1:02.19. Prible won the 200-meter individual medley in 2:41.33 and the 100-meter backstroke in 1:13.63.
Miller scored 210.6 points to capture the one-meter diving competition. Dann won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:23.30. Bertsch won the 50-meter freestyle in 28.9 seconds. Osborn won the 400 freestyle.
Prible, Bertsch and Walburn teamed with Mitchel Meitzler to win the medley relay in 2:10.45. Meitzler, Dann, Prible and Walburn won the 200 free relay in 1:54.56. Aaron Lautzenheiser, Connor Pfister, Dann and Bertsch won the 400 free relay in 4:41.84.

Grant dollars awarded to plant trees in Indiana

DNR’s Division of Forestry has awarded $121,203 in federal grant dollars to 16 cities, towns, and non-profits throughout the state to plant trees.

The cities, towns, and non profits awarded funds to help fill more than 850,000 vacant urban street and park tree spaces in the state include: Anderson Parks, Arrow Head Country RC&D for Winamac, Bloomington, Brownsburg, Evansville and Keep Evansville Beautiful, Franklin, Indiana Urban Forest Council, Inc., Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Kendallville, Muncie, Noblesville, Rensselaer, Tree Lafayette, TREES Inc. in Terre Haute, West Lafayette, and Westfield.

“Trees of the urban forest provide a significant environmental impact as they improve air quality and decrease storm water runoff, making these projects very important throughout the state,” said John Seifert, DNR State Forester.

Besides grant dollars, the urban forestry program visits municipalities to assess urban forestry needs, offer technical and educational assistance to establish an urban forestry management program, and help communities become a Tree City USA.

For more information, contact Pam Louks at (317) 591-1170 or plouks@dnr.IN.gov.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Tigershark boys fall to Oak Hill
The Bluffton boys’ swimming team fell 120-66 to the hosting Oak Hill Golden Eagles Monday evening despite the strong efforts of Sam Walburn and Jason Prible.
Prible took first place in the 100-yard backstroke for the Tigersharks with a time of 1:06.36, while Walburn claimed the 100-yard butterfly in 55.66 seconds. Walburn also earned a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, while Prible was second in the 200-yard individual medley.
Prible and Walburn teamed up with Luke Bertsch and Michael Meitzler to win the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:54.42. Matt Dann joined Prible, Walburn and Meitzler for second in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Bluffton’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Aaron Lautzenheiser, Connor Pfister, Dann and Bertsch took third place.

Crusaders lose wrestling opener
The Norwell Middle School matmen lost their first match of the season to a strong South Adams squad 55-17 on Monday. Winning for Norwell in its first action of the season were sixth-graders Trevor Wilson and Jonathon Becker. Wilson won 17-0 at 80 pounds and Becker pinned his opponent in 36 seconds at 85 pounds. Seventh-grader Trevor Eichler posted a pin in 1:39 at 135 pounds.


Raider wrestlers post a victory
The Southern Wells Junior High School wrestling team defeated Heritage 33-30.

80 pounds: Malott (H) dec Brandt Couch (SW) 5-2
90: Rothgeb (H) pin Briar Beeks (SW) :59
105: T.C. Perry (SW) pin J. Kitzmiller (H) 1:41
110: Brennen Rheinhart (SW) pin L. Ade (H) :32
110: Jacey Dunnuck (SW) pin M. Burney (H) 1:26
115: Austin Wells (SW) dec. J. Gerber (H) 7-4
122: A. Conrad (H) pin Paul Renner (SW) :29
130: Daniel Beeks (SW) pin Z. Yoder (H) :10
145: J. Hooks (H) dec. Brandon Hough (SW) 7-2
155: M. Gibson (H) pin Miguel Arriaga (SW) 1:32
215: J. Myers (H) pin Ace Addington (SW) :33
250: Alberto Morels (SW) pin J. Price (H) :33
Exhibition
95: Drew Rockwell (SW) pin D. Bontempo (H) :19
115: J. Gerber (H) pin Cameron Dalley (SW) :20
122: A. Conrad (H) pin Ethan Westfall (SW) :15
130: Z. Yoder (H) pin Daniel Stone (SW) 2:17
145: J. Hooks (H) pin Jake Weldy (SW) 1:40
155: M. Gibson (H) pin Ethan Smith (SW) 2:15
215: Jacob Stout (SW) pin J. Price (H) :45

Indiana hires cornerbacks coach
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — New Indiana football coach Kevin Wilson has rounded out his staff by hiring Brandon Shelby as his cornerbacks coach.
Wilson says he had a great relationship with Shelby while Wilson was offensive coordinator at Oklahoma and Shelby was a defensive back for the Sooners.

High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, Feb. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Norwell vs. Maconaquah at Peru, 6 p.m.; Bluffton vs. FW Bishop Luers at South Adams, 7 p.m.; Southern Wells vs. Daleville at Wes-Del, 7 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Bluffton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS DIVING: IHSAA Regional at Fishers, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 9
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Norwell, 6 p.m. (Note the location).

Thursday, Feb. 10
BOYS BASKETBALL: Leo at Bluffton, 6 p.m.; Southern Wells at Woodlan, 6 p.m.; Homestead at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Bluffton at Adams Central, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, TBA.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12
WRESTLING: IHSAA Semi-State at Allen County Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, 9 a.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA State Finals at Indianapolis, TBA.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, TBA.

Adams-Wells Alumni Chapter Bowling

Are you ready for some family fun and
a little friendly competition?


Join the Ball State Alumni Association and the Adams-Wells Alumni
Chapter at The Bowling Center in Bluffton (1231 South Scott) on
Sunday, February 13, 2011 from 2 - 4 p.m.

Enjoy 2 hours of unlimited bowling (bumpers are available),
shoe rental, and a free soft drink for only $7.00 for adults! Children
16 years and younger are just $4.00. The Bowling Center will also have
food available for purchase.

Don't forget your camera! Special guest Charlie Cardinal will be on hand
for the festivities.

Reservations are due Wednesday, February 9, 2011.
Please visit here to download the registration form.

For more information please contact:
Fred Hoffman, '87
(260) 589-2682

Stan Kunkel, '78
(260) 824-9966

Debbie Linegar, BSUAA
888-I-GO-4-BSU

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Sectional tickets on sale at Norwell
The Norwell High School Athletic Department is selling all-session girls’ basketball sectional tickets in the athletic office through Tuesday. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost for an all-session ticket is $10. A single-session ticket is $6 at the door.

Buffet set for Norwell cross country
The Norwell girls’ and boys’ cross country teams have created a booster club to help raise money to offset the transportation fee.
A pizza buffet has been scheduled at the Ossian East of Chicago Pizza restaurant from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Team members will be servers and dishwashers and the restaurant will donate $1 per buffet and all tips also will go to the club. Cost is $9.29, which includes buffet, drink and tax.

High School Sports Calendar

Monday, Feb. 7
BOYS SWIMMING: Blackford at Norwell, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Columbia City, 6:15 p.m. (rescheduled from Saturday)

Tuesday, Feb. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Norwell vs. Maconaquah at Peru, 6 p.m.; Bluffton vs. FW Bishop Luers at South Adams, 7 p.m.; Southern Wells vs. Daleville at Wes-Del, 7 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Bluffton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS DIVING: IHSAA Regional at Fishers, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 9
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Norwell, 6 p.m. (Note the location).

Indiana Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission

Indiana DNR Release:



The Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission has hired Ratio Architects of Indianapolis to prepare a report for the Indiana General Assembly on the value of Indiana’s historic county courthouses to their communities and counties, the condition of the 84 historic courthouse buildings, the priorities for rehabilitation, preservation, and restoration of such structures, and the needs of county officials as they maintain their courthouses and plan for the future. Ratio will analyze information already gathered by the Courthouse Commission from county commissioners, county judges, and site visits by the staff of Indiana Landmarks. The firm will also gather information on funding sources for courthouse preservation projects, the importance of preserving historic courthouses to the history and identity of count seat communities and their counties, and the importance of preserving such courthouses to the economic revitalization of county seat communities and counties. The results of the analysis and research will be compiled into the report, and the Commission will develop findings and recommendations based on statements prepared by Ratio. The report will be delivered to the General Assembly in July of this year.

Funds for producing the report were raised by Courthouse Commission members with grants received from the Efroymson Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, other community foundations across the state, and the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission, created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2008 to assist county officials in caring for Indiana’s historic courthouses, has been meeting quarterly since April 2009 and has given technical assistance to several counties facing challenges related to preserving their courthouses. Shortly after a fire severely damaged the 1855 Jefferson County Courthouse in June, 2009, Fritz Herget, the professional engineer member, and Ron Ross, the professional architect member, offered preliminary recommendations to county officials on establishing priorities for stabilizing the building and retaining important architectural features.

The Commission has also been speaking at conferences of county commissioners, county judges, community foundations, and Main Street organizations to spread more awareness of the value of historic courthouses and offer the Courthouse Preservation Advisory Commission’s technical assistance.

Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes to address annual dinner honoring women's achievements in sports

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Dominique Dawes, U.S. Olympic gold medalist in gymmastics, will deliver the keynote address at Indiana University Bloomington's annual National Girls and Women in Sport Day Dinner, where ESPN sportscaster and IU alumna Sage Steele will be honored along with Emily Ward, a director at IU's Campus Recreational Sports.


Dominique Dawes

The Feb. 12 dinner in Bloomington is sponsored by the IU School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) and the IU Alumni Association (IUAA). It begins at 6 p.m. in the Henke Hall of Champions, located in the North End Zone facility of IU Memorial Stadium.

Tickets are available for $25 each ($15 for IUAA members); table sponsorships are available for $250 (includes eight seats). To purchase tickets or register for the event, visit www.hper.indiana.edu.

Dominique Dawes

Dawes is best known for her success as an Olympic gymnast who competed in three Olympic Games, where she won four medals and gained a permanent place in the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. Fans across the nation and around the world remember her as a member of the gold-medal-winning "Magnificent Seven" at the 1996 Atlanta Games, where she also won a bronze medal with her floor-exercise performance, becoming the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal. She also earned a bronze medal with the U.S. team in the 1992 Barcelona Games and made a surprising comeback in the 2000 Sydney Games, earning a team bronze medal.

At her Olympic debut in 1992 in Barcelona, she was the first African-American female to compete in and qualify for an Olympic Games through the Olympic trials. At these Games, she and her teammates captured a bronze medal. Throughout her career, Dawes has won more National Championship medals than any other athlete -- male or female -- since 1963, as well as numerous World Championship medals.

Since retiring from gymnastics, Dawes has become an accomplished motivational speaker, speaking to audiences about topics focusing on passion, leadership, teamwork, health, fitness and wellness. Dawes' message empowers vast audiences with her passion and energy, and leaves a lasting effect on those she inspires. In 2010, Dawes was named co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. As co-chair, her mission is to engage, educate and empower all Americans to fulfill their own dreams.

High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, Feb. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Winchester at Bluffton, postponed; Adams Central at Norwell, postponed.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, postponed to Friday.

Friday, Feb. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 5
WRESTLING: IHSAA Regional at Jay County, 8:30 a.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, 9 a.m. (Diving), 1 p.m. (Consolation, Championship Finals).
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Heritage, 6 p.m. (Freshman, JV, V); Blue River at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Columbia City, 6:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Norwell vs. Maconaquah at Peru, 6 p.m.; Bluffton vs. FW Bishop Luers at South Adams, 7 p.m.; Southern Wells vs. Daleville at Wes-Del, 7 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Bluffton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS DIVING: IHSAA Regional, TBA.

Volunteers needed to help monitor frog and toad populations

Indiana DNR Release:

Indiana DNR is offering two workshops on Indiana's 17 frog and toad species. Attendees will learn how to identify Indiana toads and frogs by their calls and may volunteer to assist the DNR with the Indiana Amphibian Monitoring Program (INAMP), part of a national roadside driving survey.

Participants need not volunteer for the program to attend the workshop, and participants don’t have to attend the workshop to volunteer.

Workshop attendees should tell the gate or building staff member at the workshop location that they are attending the Amphibian Monitoring Workshop so they aren’t charged gate entrance fees. The workshops are held:

Feb. 16 (6 p.m. EST)
Versailles State Park
PO Box 205, 1387 E US 50
Versailles, IN 47042
(812) 689-6424

Feb. 23 (6 p.m. CST)
Angel Mounds State Historic Site
8215 Pollack Ave
Evansville, IN 47715
(812) 853-3956

Those who volunteer will select an available roadside driving route with 10 listening stops. The volunteer will survey the route three times per year from late February through June.

Surveys are conducted at night, usually after rainy days, when frogs and toads give their breeding calls. Each survey takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, plus travel time to and from the route location. At each of the 10 stops, the volunteer listens for five minutes, recording what species are heard and some environmental data. Information collected will help DNR biologists better understand the distribution and abundance of amphibians in Indiana.

Anyone is welcome to attend, but must be 18 or older to participate in the monitoring program. Registration is not required. Internet access and e-mail is required to participate in the program. Attendees should bring pen and paper. For more information, visit http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/5455.htm.

The Indiana Amphibian Monitoring Program is part of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) of the U.S. Geological Survey. For more information on NAAMP, see http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/.

This program is funded by donations to the Endangered Wildlife Fund on the Indiana tax form. Look for the eagle and donate all or a portion of your state tax refund to keep frogs and toads hopping in Indiana.

Goose reduction canceled at Shakamak State Park

Indiana DNR Release:

The goose reduction scheduled for Feb. 5 and 6 at Shakamak State Park has been canceled because of storm damage along park roads and ice on the lakes.

Drawn hunters or potential standby hunters interested in the final reduction of the year, to be held Feb. 12 and 13, should call the property at (812) 665-2158 on Feb. 11 to check for potential cancellation of that event.

More information regarding state park goose reductions can be found at:

http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-GooseReductions.pdf

High School Sports Calendar

Wednesday, Feb. 2
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Adams Central at Norwell, postponed.

Thursday, Feb. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Winchester at Bluffton, 6 p.m.; Adams Central at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 5
WRESTLING: IHSAA Regional at Jay County, 8:30 a.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, 9 a.m. (Diving), 1 p.m. (Consolation, Championship Finals).
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Heritage, 6 p.m. (Freshman, JV, V); Blue River at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Columbia City, 6:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Norwell vs. Maconaquah at Peru, 6 p.m.; Bluffton vs. FW Bishop Luers at South Adams, 7 p.m.; Southern Wells vs. Daleville at Wes-Del, 7 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Bluffton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS DIVING: IHSAA Regional, TBA.

Help get kids outside with Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs

Indiana DNR Release:

You can help cover field trip expenses to state parks and reservoirs for the state’s schoolchildren in three new ways by donating to the “Discovering the Outdoors Fund” in the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. The fund helps activities led by DNR interpretive naturalists. The three new options are listed below. Each can be reached at www.stateparks.IN.gov/2923.htm.

– Outside Magazine
A $10 donation is made for every customer who subscribes to Outside magazine before the end of 2011. Outside magazine promotes worldwide outdoor adventure.

–DirecTV
Any customer who signs up for DirecTV service through March 31, and uses a special code provided for Indiana, will get the best in market pricing (a $120 savings) and state parks will get $50. Of that total, $40 will go to Indiana’s state park system, and $10 will go to the newly created America’s State Parks Foundation, which supports all state park systems. Sign up online or by calling 1-877-214-9577. Use the code INPARKS when prompted.

–Green Boot App
Hiking, running or even walking around the house or office with your iPhone can generate a donation from Green Boot. Download a free app to get started. Like a pedometer, the app records the user’s steps. The more steps you take the more Indiana’s state parks and reservoirs gets. The donations come from ad revenue. Green Boot supports green initiatives and charities through interactive media exposure. The company allocates 15 percent of its annual proceeds to protecting parks, wetlands and other habitat.

To make a donation directly to the “Discovering the Outdoors Fund,” call Bourke Patton of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation at (317) 233-1002, or go to www.IndianaNRF.org (list the fund name with your donation).

Bat tests positive for white-nosed fungus

Indiana DNR Release:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have received confirmation that a bat found in a southern Indiana cave has tested positive for the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome. The case is the state’s first for the WNS fungus, believed to be responsible for the deaths of more than one million bats in the eastern United States.

Researchers doing biennial bat counts at Endless Cave in Washington County discovered two little brown bats on Jan. 23 that exhibited the white fungus characteristic of WNS. One of the bats was euthanized and sent to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, which later confirmed the presence of the WNS-associated fungus.

Additional bats with signs of WNS were discovered during routine bat count surveys at other caves.

“We knew WNS was likely to reach Indiana caves this year, and we have been working closely with biologists from the DNR to prepare for this as well as we could,” said Tom Melius, the Service’s Midwest Regional Director. “Nonetheless, it is devastating to actually confirm the presence of the fungus and witness the symptoms of WNS in bats. While there is currently no cure and no treatment for this disease, we will put all our energies into contributing to the ongoing efforts to understand and combat WNS.”

The fungus has been discovered in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

Researchers associate WNS with a newly identified fungus, Geomyces destructans, which thrives in the cold and humid conditions characteristic of caves and mines used by hibernating bats.

Experts believe WNS is transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but they also caution it may be transmitted by humans inadvertently carrying fungal spores from cave to cave on their clothing and caving gear.

The DNR closed public access to all caves on state-managed properties two years ago, including Endless Cave in the Cave River Valley Natural Area managed by the DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs as part of Spring Mill State Park.

“We will continue to keep all of our caves closed, and we are urging private cave owners to either not allow access to their caves or require visitors to follow USFWS decontamination procedures,” DNR deputy director John Davis said. “The whole effort is to slow the spread and have movement of the disease not be exacerbated by human interference.”

Physical signs associated with WNS are a white fungus on the bat’s nose, wings, ears or tail membrane. Bats afflicted with WNS often exhibit unusual behavior in winter, including clustering near hibernacula entrances. Affected bats also may leave their hibernacula during the day and may be observed flying or clinging to rocks outside or on nearby buildings. Dead or dying bats are often found on the ground near affected areas.

For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit www.dnr.in.gov/batdisease and www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome

High School Sports Calendar

Tuesday, Feb. 1
BOYS SWIMMING: Bluffton at Oak Hill, postponed; Blackford at Norwell, postponed.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Leo at Norwell, postponed.

Wednesday, Feb. 2
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Adams Central at Norwell, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 3
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Winchester at Bluffton, 6 p.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 4
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 5
WRESTLING: IHSAA Regional at Jay County, 8:30 a.m.
GIRLS SWIMMING: IHSAA Sectional at Jay County, 9 a.m. (Diving), 1 p.m. (Consolation, Championship Finals).
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Heritage, 6 p.m. (Freshman, JV, V); Blue River at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Columbia City, 6:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 8
GIRLS BASKETBALL: IHSAA Sectionals, Norwell vs. Maconaquah at Peru; Bluffton vs. FW Bishop Luers at South Adams; Southern Wells vs. Daleville at Wes-Del, 7 p.m.
BOYS SWIMMING: Huntington North at Bluffton, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS DIVING: IHSAA Regional, TBA.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Swim team needs coaches
The Wells County Swim Team is looking for coaches for the 2011 summer season. Candidates should send resumes to WCST, P.O. Box 208, Ossian, IN 46777. For more information contact Teri Huffman at 824-3462.

Kentucky wrestler wins state title
Dru Schroer, a freshman wrestler at Walton-Verona High School in Walton, Ky., won his weight class Saturday at the Kentucky junior varsity state wrestling tourney at Louisville. Schroer, 15, won all four of his matches in claiming the 145-pound title. He is the son of former Bluffton resident Cathy (Frank) Schroer and August “Butch” Schroer of Florence, Ky. He also is a nephew of Bluffton residents Geoff and Mary Lynn Frank. Schroer was a state middle school tournament runner-up last year.

Gypsy moth public meetings postponed

Indiana DNR Release:

Winter weather has forced postponement of the DNR public meetings on gypsy moth treatments that were scheduled for today through Feb. 3, in Valparaiso, Decatur, LaCrosse and Peru.

The meeting that was scheduled for tonight in Valparaiso at the Porter County Library is postponed until Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. at the library.

The meeting scheduled for Adams County Public Library in Decatur for Wednesday, Feb.2, is postponed until Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. at the library.

The meeting scheduled for the Lacrosse Public Library in LaCrosse for Wednesday, Feb. 2, is postponed but not yet rescheduled. A date and time will be announced later at gypsymoth.IN.gov.

The meeting at the Miami State Recreation Area scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, is postponed until Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. at the same site.

Updated meeting locations and times follow. All times are EST, except where indicated.

Porter County – site names - 350 East, 350 East Btk Core
Feb. 8 @ 6 p.m. CST
Porter County Library
103 Jefferson Street,
Valparaiso, IN

Adams County - site name - Wren
Feb. 5 @ 2 p.m.
Adams County Public Library
128 S. 3rd Street,
Decatur, IN

La Porte/Starke counties – site name – Bigler Road
To be announced

Miami/Wabash counties – site names - Mississinewa North, Mississinewa South
Feb. 9 @ 6 p.m.
Miami State Recreation Area
4673 S 625 E,
Peru, IN

While open to anyone, the meetings will be geared toward residents of the sites listed above that have been identified as having gypsy moth infestations.

At the meetings, personnel from the DNR divisions of Entomology & Plant Pathology and Forestry NR will propose options for treatment. The representatives also will welcome questions and comments.

Those who can’t attend a meeting can view gypsymoth.IN.gov for treatment area maps, and further information about gypsy moths.

Written comments may be submitted to DNR, Attn: Gypsy Moth, Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN, 46204, or e-mailed to: DEPP@dnr.IN.gov. The comment period runs through Feb. 25 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Salamonie program for preschoolers rescheduled for Jan. 26

Indiana DNR Release:

“Making Tracks,” an animal tracks program for kids ages 2 to 5, will be offered at the Salamonie Interpretive Center, Wednesday, Jan. 26.

The program, which was originally scheduled for Jan. 19, runs 10-11:30 a.m. Children will compare animal tracks to signs that they can make, take a hike to look for tracks, and enjoy a craft.

Regardless of weather, the program is planned to be both indoors and out, starting at the interpretive center. Parents are expected to stay with their child throughout the program. Participants can choose to bring their lunch to eat together after the event.

There is a $2 fee per child for the program. The standard property entrance fee will be waived for program attendees. Register by calling (260) 468-2127 or stop by the interpretive center at 3691 S. New Holland Road, Andrews, IN, 46702.

The interpretive center and Otter Run Tradin’ Post is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. This barrier-free building features exhibits, floor-to-ceiling windows in the wildlife viewing area, and staff to answer your questions.

See www.dnr.IN.gov/uwis for more information about other programs put on by the Upper Wabash Interpretive Services. Visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/upperwabash.